Half-Eaten Brownie Leads Cops to Alleged Copper Thief

Authorities matched DNA on the munched-on brownie to DNA of a suspect on file

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Police arrested an alleged burglar on Staten Island when they matched DNA found on a half-eaten brownie left at the crime scene to the suspect's records on file, according to a published report.

According to court papers, Stapleton police investigating the theft of copper popping from a Cebra Avenue home last summer noticed a partially-eaten fudge brownie in a "Little Debbie" package in the living room and bagged it as possible evidence.

Forensic specialists matched the DNA on the treat to data on a police file for Jeffrey Reader, who had previously been convicted for stealing copper piping and scrap metal from a Long Island construction site, prosecutors told The Staten Island Advance.

Reader was arrested and charged with the July 14 copper theft at the Cebra Avenue home. He was arraigned Wednesday on a third-degree burglary charge, the Advance said.

Information on an attorney wasn't immediately available.

Reader was previously arrested in a robbery that occurred two days after the Cebra Avenue break-in. Prosecutors had said he allegedly stole hundreds of feet of copper and brass piping and a water meter, among other items, and later sold the material to a scrap dealer.